| Method and apparatus for the automatic completion of composite characters -> Monitor Keywords |
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Method and apparatus for the automatic completion of composite charactersRelated Patent Categories: Data Processing: Presentation Processing Of Document, Operator Interface Processing, And Screen Saver Display Processing, Presentation Processing Of Document, Edit, Composition, Or Storage Control, Text, Ideographic GeneratorMethod and apparatus for the automatic completion of composite characters description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060294462, Method and apparatus for the automatic completion of composite characters. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention is directed to the entry of composite characters. In particular, the present invention facilitates the entry of words or characters comprised of a number of letters or character shapes into communications or computing devices. BACKGROUND [0002] Mobile communication and computing devices that are capable of performing a wide variety of functions are now available. Increasingly, such functions require or can benefit from the entry of text. For example, text messaging services used in connection with cellular telephones are now in widespread use. As a further example, portable devices are increasingly used in connection with email applications. However, the space available on portable devices for keyboards is extremely limited. Therefore, the entry of text into such devices can be difficult. In addition, the symbols used by certain languages can be difficult to input, even in connection with larger desktop communication or computing devices. [0003] In languages such as English, Roman characters (letters) are used to form words. More particularly, words in the English language are formed based on the individual letters that are included in the word and on the sequence of those letters. Accordingly, conventional autocompletion systems, for example that present a list of words to a user for selection, include in such a list only those words that include the specified letters in the specified order. [0004] Chinese characters are an example of graphical symbols that are composed of a number of word shapes. The word shapes are in turn composed of a number of strokes. In order to properly compose a Chinese character, each of the strokes of an included word shape must be written in a particular order. In addition, each of the word shapes must be entered in a particular order. [0005] Chinese characters (and characters in other languages that use complex written symbols) can be very laborious to enter into communications and computer devices. For example, a typical Chinese character is comprised of about nine strokes. In addition, distinguishing between different Chinese characters can be difficult, even for highly literate Chinese speakers and writers. For example, modern Chinese writing uses about 6,000 of the over 50,000 Chinese characters that have been cataloged. Even reading a typical newspaper can require knowledge of about 4,000 Chinese characters. In addition to the many subtle variations that often distinguish characters, there is a predefined order in which the strokes comprising different word shapes, and the different word shapes comprising different characters, are to be written. This traditional ordering has carried over into the user inputs of communications and computer devices. As a result, even a user who may be able to recognize a desired character if presented with that character may be unable to use an automated list to retrieve that character if the user cannot recall the first stroke or shape used to compose the desired character. Therefore, automated lists that may be available to facilitate the entry of Chinese characters will not contain the desired character if the first stroke or word shape entered by the user is not the first stroke or word shape that is traditionally written in forming that character. [0006] In order to permit a user to enter Chinese characters using a communications or computing device, keyboards may be provided with individual keys that correspond to the basic strokes used to compose Chinese characters. However, because a single Chinese character can be composed of a large number of individual strokes, such methods can be extremely time consuming. In addition, such systems have adhered to the requirement that the strokes be entered in their proper order. Therefore, it can be extremely difficult for even a native Chinese speaker to successfully enter a Chinese character through the selection of individual strokes because the user must not only remember every stroke that is included in the character the user is attempting to write, but also the order in which the strokes should be entered. [0007] As an alternative, keyboards that allow a user to select word shapes have been developed. Such systems can reduce the number of individual keystrokes that a user must enter in order to complete a character. However, such systems have continued to require that the user enter the word shapes in the correct order. [0008] The entry of complex characters can be simplified by providing an autocompletion function. According to such systems, once a user has begun to input a series of strokes or word shapes, a number of characters containing the entered strokes or word shapes may be presented to the user, for example in the display screen of the user's device. Furthermore, the candidate characters may be ordered such that the more commonly used characters appear higher up in the list of displayed characters. However, because the correct ordering of stroke or word shape entry is required, the user may be unable to cause a list containing the desired character to be generated. As a result, a user may be unable to select or input the desired character, even though the user would be able to recognize that character if it was presented to them. SUMMARY [0009] In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a method and apparatus is provided according to which words or complex characters can be entered into a communications or computing device without requiring that the components of such words or characters be entered in a predefined order. More particularly, the entry of a number of component parts of a word or character results in the generation of a list of candidate words or characters containing those components, regardless of the order in which such components should be entered, as defined by the rules for writing the characters conventionally. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention can allow a user to recognize and select a complex character presented as part of a list of candidate words or characters, even if the user has entered the individual components in an order that is improper, at least with respect to the selected word or character. [0010] In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, a method and apparatus is provided that permits a user to narrow a list of candidate word or characters by subtracting a selected letter, stroke or word shape. For example, a user may cause a relatively large list of candidate words or characters to be generated and displayed by entering at least some of the letters, strokes or word shapes included in a desired word or character. The user may then narrow that list by making an entry indicating that a particular letter, stroke or word shape is not part of the desired word or character. [0011] Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following discussion, particularly when taken together with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of components of a communication or computing device in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; [0013] FIG. 2 depicts a communication device in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; [0014] FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting aspects of the operation of an autocompletion process in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. [0015] FIGS. 4A-4D depict example display outputs in accordance with embodiments to the present invention; and [0016] FIGS. 5A-5D depict example display outputs in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0017] In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a word or character may be included in a list of words or characters available for selection by a user in response to user input indicating that a particular component of a word or character, such as a letter (for example in the case of an English word) or a stroke or word shape (for example in the case of a Chinese character), is included in the desired word or character. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention generate the list without regard to the position of the selected component in a sequence of components comprising a word or character. In accordance with still other embodiments of the present invention, a set of words or characters available for selection may be narrowed by subtracting those words or characters that include a selected component. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention facilitate the entry of words or characters using communication or computing devices by allowing a user to select a desired word or character from a list generated in response to components of the desired word or character entered by the user in an addition mode, independent of the order in which those components were entered (or components not desired by the user in a subtracting mode). [0018] With reference now to FIG. 1, components of a communications or computing device 100 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention are depicted in block diagram form. The components may include a processor 104 capable of executing program instructions. Accordingly, the processor 104 may include any general purpose programmable processor or controller for executing application programming. Alternatively, the processor 104 may comprise a specially configured application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The processor 104 generally functions to run programming code implementing various functions performed by the communication or computing device 100, including word or character selection operations as described herein. [0019] A communication or computing device 100 may additionally include memory 108 for use in connection with the execution of programming by the processor 104 and for the temporary or long term storage of data or program instructions. The memory 108 may comprise solid state memory resident, removable or remote in nature, such as DRAM and SDRAM. Where the processor 104 comprises a controller, the memory 108 may be integral to the processor 104. Continue reading about Method and apparatus for the automatic completion of composite characters... 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